JOSHUA WATSON

Joshua has a congenital disability called spina bifida, which has disabled him from walking. As a result, he is a full-time manual wheelchair user, however, his wheelchair hasn't stopped him from driving from one place to the next. Joshua claims that many people are shocked to find out that he does indeed drive.

Joshua's disability has presented many challenges for him growing up. One pertinent challenge for him has been pumping gas. At gas stations, Joshua is faced with many barriers and challenges. In his 15-minute lengthy and tedious process, Joshua has to find a bay that is not busy to leave enough space to take out and assemble his wheelchair to access the pumps. He claims that spacing is the biggest issue for him as he sometimes annoys other customers with how close he's parking to neighboring bays. “There are apps out there that are supposed to be helping with accessibility but it rarely works or takes too long,” says Joshua when uncovering his experiences with current accessibility options.

Despite his disability, Joshua likes to indulge himself in sports. In his free time, Joshua participates in track and field para-athletic games, specifically the javelin, shotput, and discus. He is also a para-ice hockey goaltender during the winters.